Spy Cat [Hardcover]

Peg Kehret (Author), Pete the Cat (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2003 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Alex and his friend Rocky are upset by the recent burglaries in their housing development. Pete, Alex's cat-who can understand perfect English but cannot speak-awakens Alex to see a suspicious vehicle leave the house next door. The new neighbors discover that they, too, have been burglarized.

Alex's little brother, Benjie, worries that the burglars will return to kidnap Pete. His fears come true when he discovers burglars at his house and Pete in the thieves' van. Benjie confronts the thugs, who throw Pete out but kidnap Benjie. Benjie must use his wits to escape, while Pete bravely ignores his own injuries to help Alex save his brother.

Told partly in Pete's voice, Spy Cat is a page-turning adventure about the importance of family and friends.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-In this second adventure starring the feline, the Kendrill family is alarmed when they hear that a neighbor's house has been burglarized. Sixth-grader Alex and his six-year-old brother, Benjie, worry and wonder what they would do if their house were robbed. Everyone is understandably nervous, except Pete, who is sure he can protect his family; after all, he is a perfect watchcat. He does see the next robbery in progress and tries to warn Alex and his friend Rocky. However, while Pete can understand human speech, people can't understand Cat, much to his disappointment and frustration. Then all of his abilities are needed when the Kendrills' house becomes the next target. He tries to stop the burglars, only to have his plan backfire and turn serious when Benjie is missing. It takes the child's bravery and observational powers and the feline's wild antics and loud meowing to capture the crooks. This is a fast-moving mystery adventure that readers of James Howe's "Sebastian Barth" series (S & S) or Betsy Byars's "Herculeah Jones" books (Viking) will enjoy. Pete's observations are printed in italics so readers always know exactly what he thinks.
Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. Pete the cat, who understands, reads, and thinks in English, but can communicate only in "meows," solves another crime for the Kendrill family. In his debut, The Stranger Next Door [BKL Fe 1 02], the crime was arson; this time, Valley View Estates is the site of a rash of burglaries. Seven-year-old Benjie Kendrill wanders into the burglary of his own home. Thinking Pete is being stolen, Benjie pursues the culprits; his life is in danger unless Pete can lead people to the clue left behind by the little boy. Benjie's foolhardiness comes across as questionable in an age of mistrust of strangers, and everyone but Pete behaves a bit too rationally, given the desperate circumstance. Still, kids who liked the first book and are ready for a step up from James Howe's stories can look forward to a fun, suspenseful read. Catherine Andronik
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1 edition (February 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525470468
• ISBN-13: 978-0525470465
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #760,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've published 45 books; all but two are for children. I wrote magazine articles, short stories, and plays for many years before I discovered that what I like best is to write books for kids.
When I was twelve, I was paralyzed with polio. I made almost a full recovery but I remember that time of my life so clearly that it's easy for me to write from the viewpoint of a twelve or thirteen-year-old.
I'm always thrilled when one of my books wins a state young reader award, because I know those awards are voted on by children.
I am a widow who was married for 48 years. I have two grown children and four grandchildren. I live on a small wildlife sanctuary near Mt. Rainier National Park and I often have deer and elk in my yard.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for Ages 8-12!, January 25, 2005

By 

Ryan (Enumclaw, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spy Cat (Mass Market Paperback)

Alex's cat Pete sees a van parked in front of their nieghbor's house and two men taking things. His first thought is that the men are robbing! Pete wakes Alex and his friend Rocky up just in time to see the van rush away without the headlights on. Alex's brother Benjie immediately takes action. He takes his spy gear and binoculars and begins looking for the robbers. Benjie doesn't see anything for many days. Suddenly, the robbers appear at Alex's and Benjie's house! But, will the brothers be prepared?

SPY CAT is an intriguing book with great characters. I thought it was awesome how Peg Kehret got inside the mind of Pete, the cat. I liked it how Pete could talk and we could understand him, but the characters in the book just thought it was meowing. I believe SPY CAT is a must read for ages 8-12.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN AMAZING BOOK!, July 1, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Spy Cat (Mass Market Paperback)

I thought this book was fantastic because it was fast-paced and suspenceful. I loved every part of the book. I would reccommend this book to anyone from ages 8-14.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny, suspenceful, and keeps you wondering till the end!, September 22, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Spy Cat (Hardcover)

Spy cat was a thrilling story of kidnapping, humor, and suspense. Pete the cat put in humorus things that he might of thought were serious. When I first looked at this book, I thought " They're gonna use the cat spy on someone andfind something horrible about them." I was dead wrong! This story kept me reading deep into the night. It might be a bit short, but it's worth the read! Peg kehret really put a lot of thought into making this story come alive in you're mind. It's almost as if you're there!